How to Train Shy Dogs to Be More Outgoing

Shy dogs have a hard life – if we think about how we feel when we’re frightened or worried, we can probably guess that a shy dog feels similar.

In an effort to train shy dogs to be more outgoing, some owners inadvertently make the problem worse instead of better.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Obedience train the shy dog. Shyness or fearfulness is not an excuse for bad manners. If we want the dog to end up calm and well-adjusted, the best way to start the process is to teach him all the things that calm and well-adjusted dogs need to know.

2. Don’t reward behavior you don’t want to see repeated.
   
   This is a big deal. Many owners try to “comfort” their shy dog when it shows fear. They do this by petting the dog gently when it’s behaving fearfully, or talking nicely to it.
   
   When this is done to shy dogs, they interpret it as praise for behaving fearfully. The proper response to any shy behavior you don’t want to see repeated is to completely ignore it.

3. Make the dog stand on his own four feet.
   
   If the shy dog is small, the owner is often tempted to pick him up off the ground and carry him – this is the opposite of building his confidence and should be avoided whenever possible.

4. Teach the dog to make new friends.
   
   It can take some time, but if you carry around the dog’s favorite treats and encourage everyone to offer one to the dog if he’ll just take a step toward them, it can really help over time to build the dog’s confidence. Be sure that no one rewards the dog unless he shows some progress toward being more outgoing.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog is aggressive because of his shyness (commonly called “fear biting”), be sure to work closely with a professional dog trainer to minimize the risk to you and others.